Hyperfunctioning Tumors of the Adrenal Cortex

The earlier literature dealing with tumors of the adrenal cortex contains frequent references to the "adrenal cortical syndrome." With closer study of more cases, it has become apparent that there is no single syndrome which is characteristic of adrenal cortical hyperfunction. Rather, the clinical pictures associated with hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex are extremely protean in nature and presumably depend on the type and quantity of steroid hormones produced, the age and sex of the patient and perhaps on other factors. In recent years the combined efforts of internists, pediatricians, chemists (particularly the steroid chemists),physiologists and surgeons have resulted in substantial additions to knowledge of the syndromes